New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-22

"DR. JEEYLL IND Mr.. HYDE

WHAT Mr.. MANSFIELD SAYS ABOUT THEM.
Despite the cares and worries incident TO his ap-
preaching tenancy OF the Madison Square Theatre.
Richard Mansfield found time the other day for a
pleasant chat concerning DR.. Jekyll and Mr. HYDE
the production OF which In Boston, with its
success he considers to have probably laid the ounda
ton OF his fortune Mr. Mansfield suffered severely
from the physical strain of the part aud has therefore
wisely determined to delay presenting it in NewYork
until cooler weather arrives. " You have idea y
said he, of the amount of work cntaed in acting
such part. During its run in Boston the weather
comparatively COOL yet every night at the end OF
the last act completely bathed in Precipitation.
The last act is in effect, monologue. and you can
therefore imagine what it must be to hold audience
unaided and alone. In q play OF this sort too, one
must mover let the attention OF ones audience escape
for instant. You must be. it were, continually
pulling them toward you, and that only be done
by the display of intense energy Naturally
enough, was exceedingly nervous the first night
felt how much depended upon my su in this part
for public expectation had been much wrought up.
As the play proceeded became even more nervous,
for the audience appeared 10 be critically considering
every point. 1t not until after the Transformation
that felt really SAFE though the murder scene
enthusiastically appauded. rather curious incident
occurred the first night. The murder is accomplished
by sudden leap of mine on to the victim, a part
which played in Boston by large and muscular
SO excited was that introduced little
realism than necessary into the act, and nearly
to be helped to his dressing room and it took him at
least an hour to recover nom the effect of my OH
slaught. However, am glad to say that this was an
eec, reserved strictly for the first night The trans
formation seemed 10 settle tho matter and from that
moment on the fate of tho play as far as Boston
went secure. During the tune we played it | do
not think that upon any night there was an unoccu-
pied seat IN the house.
"Of course there were some amusing in cdents con.
nected with the short run. At one matinee perform
the play about half through and the audience
we're silent as DEATH when heard childish treple
pipe up from the body of the theatre, 'Oh, mamma,
take me home take me home' A little story, too
was told me of young lady. who said before she
went, Now, l shall lot DO satisfied unless am
wfully thrilled This young person turned 10 her
mother who told me the story the last curtain fell
and said with a sigh OF relief, Il am perfectly
satisfied"
Mr.. Mansfield asked as to what led him TO
change the outward appearance OF /" DIR. Jekyl" from
that described by Mr.. Stevenson
i thought the matter carefully OVER said he
and formed my conception from my own point of
view. To make 'Jekyll portly, rotund Individual
such Stevenson described, would be n dramatic
error, even posing that to change him the stage
INFO the thin, haggard, naevoent being such as
Hyde must be made, were possible, without trick
The change would be too startling and wound destroy
all OF probability Without that feeling of the
possibility OF such physical change being real the
part would lose its whole dramatic value. 1t has
often been said that do things in a novel that
impossible the stage, and this is one OF them.
Now by making 'Jekyll' dreamy long haired.
sallow metaphysiean, bring him step nearer his
other self, Mr.. HYDE
"Of course" added Mr.. Mansfield I do not feel at
all that the play will please NEWCOMERS much
it did Boston friends, but its preliminary
will at least insure attention. Ii is not play
to please every one but 1t has in 1t that element OF
surprise which think the public nowadays demands.
! have an idea, too, that certain passages will go
better in Ne~-York than they did in Boston,
Mr. Mansfield has finally decided to open his sum
mer season with the revival of Prince Karl" How
long this will has not been decided but 1t will
probably form preliminary canter, TO adopt racing
phraseoogv During the months Of June and July he
will produce or more light comedies which he has
10 reserve while, toward the end OF his tenancy,
when the weather has grown mewhat cooler and the
necessary exertion ia possible DR.. Jeky" will be
put before The New-York public. In returning to
= Prince Karl I" Mr. Mansfield follows the advice OF
many Of his friends who think Il at the public is not
yet tired of this airy delineation.